Pressurized transfusion apparatus



Juy 8, 1958 LE ROY M. RUNDHAUG 2,842,123

FRESSURIZED TRANSFUSJON APPARATUS FiledMay 25, 195e INVENTozL LeRoY M.Euuomwai ATTOD-N EVS United States Patent O PRESSURIZED TRANSFUSIONAPPARATUS i Le Roy M. Rundhaug, Pomona, Calif.

Application May 25, 1956, Serial No.` 587,241

1 Claim. (Cl. 128.-214) This invention pertains generally to transfusionapparatus and is more particularly concerned with novel pressurizedtransfusion apparatus suitable for the transfusion of blood, plasma,saline solutions, and the like.

Generally speaking, the present methods of transfusing blood, plasma,and the like, utilize a gravity-flow system or method. Often suchgravity-how method is relatively slow, and in the interim required forsuch transfusion, the patient may possibly die from shock due to thelength of time required.

A primary object of invention is to overcome the shortcomings of theprior art by providing pressurized transfusion apparatus incorporating apressure container including means for applying internal pressuretherein, wherein thepressurized container incorporates a sealedvariable-volume impervious liuid chamber member containing the liquid orfluid to be transfused. Also, the variable-volume impervious liuidchamber includes a valve-controlled outlet portion for directing ordispensing the transfusion liquid to a patient, and by pressurizing thefluid container the transfusion fluid may be transfused readily andexpeditiously without any danger of contamination of the same. i

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is toprovide in pressurized transfusion apparatus of the character set fortha collapsible impervious bag constituting the variable-volume fluidchamber wherein said bag includes a nozzle portion incorporating anannular gasket which is secured in sealed relationship on anoutwardly-extending threaded collar of the pressure container wherein atubular coupling member including valve-control means may be readily andexpeditiously secured in sealing relationship on said collar.

Another object of invention in conformance with that set forth is toprovide pressurized transfusion apparatus of the character set forthwhich is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highlypractical, sanitary, serviceable and highly utilitarian for the purposeintended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the novel pressurized transfusionapparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure lwith portions broken away, shown in section for clarity; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the novel pressurized transfusionapparatus is indicated generally at and includes a pressure container 12which may be 2 made of any suitable noncorrosive material such as metal,

plastic, etc., and is shown herein to be rectangular in shape, however,any suitable container may be utilized for this purpose, the container12 including a body portion 14 having extending upwardly from its upperend an integral tubular inlet element 16 which is threaded at 18 at itsupper end for receiving thereon a valve-retaining housing element 20.The housing element 20 includes an internal recess 22 defining a valveseat with which a valve element 24 is engageable, and a suitablecompression spring element 26 extends between a lower surface portion ofthe valve element 24 and an upper end portion of the tubular element 16.The valve element 24 includes an integral pin element 28 which may bemanually depressed for the purpose of relieving the pressure in the bodymember 14. The interior of the body member 14 defines a pressurizedchamber 30. In communication with the tubular element 16 is alaterallyextending attaching tube 32 which may have mounted thereon asuitable pressure-indicating gauge `indicated generally at 34. It is tobe understood that any suitable source of fluid pressure may be appliedto the housing member 20. The pressure being utilized maybe that of gas,such as air, Freon, carbon dioxide, etc., or a suitable liquid mightalso be used.

Extending from the lower Wall 36 of the container is an aperture portion38 which is surrounded by an annular outwardly-extending threaded collar40 which is externally threaded at 42.

Contained within the pressure chamber 30 of the pressure container 14 isa llexible impervious collapsible fluid-holding bag 44 which willcontain the plasma, blood, or saline solution, for example, used in atransfusion. The bag 44 is constructed of any suitable material, such asnatural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, etc. The bag 44 includes athickened tubular nozzle portion 46 which extends through the collar 40of the pressure container, said nozzle 46 terminating in an annularsealing gasket element 48 which extends in overlying relationship to theend S0 of the collar 4l).

Secured on the threaded collar 40 by means of an enlargedinternally-threaded cap portion 52 is a tubular nozzle element 54, theinternally threaded cap 52 engaging the sealing gasket 48 of thecollapsible bag 44 and defining a sealed relationship therewithpreventing the accidental escape of pressure from the pressure chamber30 of the pressure container 14. The collapsible bag may be delined as avariable-volume chamber which contains the transfusion lluid.

The nozzle element 54 has extending therethrough conically-alignedaperture portions 56 and SS for receiving therethrough a conventionalvalve-control spigot element 60 which controls the dissemination ordispensing of the transfusion fluid.

Thus the collapsible bag 44 which is sterile may be inserted in thepressure container 14 whereafter the same is filled with the transfusionfluid after which time the spigot or valve-control element 60 isdisposed in a closed relationship. The internally-threaded cap 52 isdisposed or secured in sealing relationship on the gasket 48 of thecollapsible bag and by utilizing a suitable fluidpressure source theinterior or pressure chamber 30 of the pressure container 14 ispressurized. The pressure gauge 34 will apprise the user of theapparatus as to the amount of pressure contained in the pressure chamber30, and after the collapsible bag 44 has been exhausted of itstransfusion fluid the pressure gauge will indicate a proportionatereduction of pressure within the pressure chamber 30 and thus apprisethe user of the Patented July 8, 1958 3 l apparatus as to wheny thecollapsible bag 44 should be relled. l

In the event that a transparent plastic is utilized in the pressurecontainer 14, a user of the apparatus may visually vobserve the amountof transfusion fluid containedr inthe collapsible bag, in the event thatthe collapsible bag is also comprised of a transparent, plastic.

' Thus there has been disclosed a pressurized transfusion apparatuswhich fully conforms with the objects of invention heretofore set forth.

i Various positional directional terms such as inner, upper, lower,etc., are utilized herein and have only a relative connotation to aid indescribing the device and it is not intended to require any particularorientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered-as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention tothe exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope ofthe appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Pressurized transfusion apparatus for blood, plasma, saline solutionsand the like, comprising a pressure container, a variable-Volumeimpervious fluid chamber contained in the pressure container forcontaining a uid to be transfused, said variable-volume chamber memberhaving a valve-controlled outlet portion extending in so sealedrelationship from the pressure container for dis- 4 I pensingpressurized transfusion fluid contained in the irnpervious uid chambermember, said pressurized container including an aperture portionextending through a wall portion thereof, an annular externally-threadedcollar member surrounding said aperture portion and extending from thepressure container, the variable volume impervious fluid chamber membercomprising a collapsible bag, said bag having a nozzle portion extendingthrough the aperture portion of the pressure container and terminatingin an annular gasket portion overlying the end of the threaded collar,the valve controlled outlet portion of the variable-volume chambermember comprising a tubular coupling element having an annularinternally-threaded cap portion engageable on the threaded collar andclampingly engaging they annular gasket portion of the collapsible bag,and valve means on the tubular coupling element for controlling thedispensing of transfusion uid from the interior of the collapsible bag.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS

